Dear School of Medicine community:

Congratulations Class of 2010! On June 1, I was honored to take part in the OHSU School of Medicine’s annual hooding and commencement ceremony. Friends, parents, children, grandparents and others – including many faculty members – came together to celebrate the enormous achievements and hard work of our newest graduates.

Our 330 graduates – including 118 MD degrees, four MD/PhD degrees, five MD/MPH degrees, 32 PhDs, 15 MPH degrees, 84 master’s and master’s of science degrees, and 72 graduate certificates in biomedical informatics, dietetics and other health care sub-specialties – join a long and proud tradition dating back 123 years to 1887 when the OHSU School of Medicine was first established.

In turn, their achievement also belongs to our faculty. Your dedication to teaching and guiding the Class of 2010 – as well as current students and thousands who have gone before – is, by extension, a commitment to the health and well-being of the countless people in Oregon and around the world whose lives intersect with our graduates.

At this time of year, we also recognize exceptional students and faculty members with honors and awards. Congratulations to all of you. You’ll find more information about these award recipients below.

On a personal note, four years ago, I was appointed Dean and this graduating MD class was the first group of students I welcomed in that role. Today, as I presented them with their hoods and degrees, I thought back to the late summer day in 2006 when I presented this same group with their first white coat. Watching all our students become talented physicians, scientists, physician assistants, policy makers, and more is the most rewarding part of my position.

I am pleased to welcome the Class of 2010 into our distinguished community of men and women who dedicate their lives to health and healing. The future of health care needs great things from our graduates, and I know they are up to the challenge.

Regards,

Mark Richardson, MD, MBA

Dean, School of Medicine

June graduations at OHSU will put more ‘boots on the ground’ in the battle to plug a growing health care work force gap that likely will get wider when federal reforms take full effect in 2014.

“These are the ‘boots on the ground’ the nation urgently needs today and in ever-growing numbers in the future to meet the demand for health care services as we draw closer to the day in 2014 when most Americans will have health insurance,” said OHSU President Joe Robertson, MD, MBA.

Read the full OHSU media release

Nine newly titled members of the Class of 2010 reflect on their experience in the School of Medicine and look ahead to the next stage of their journey.

• Class President Sharl S. Azar to continue to call OHSU home
• Sarah Bergman and Svetlana Zubkova educate Hondurans about nutrition
• Michela Burla explores how human development impacts Columbia River wildlife
• Thomas Ciesielski marks fourth generation family legacy of OHSU physicians
• Patrick O. Kinney to tackle rural family medicine in remote Idaho
• Genia Taitano finds new link between people with disabilities and food security
• Rachel Thomas travels south for emergency medicine, adventure
  
• World traveler Lawrence Tiglao on his way to OB/GYN residency
  

At the end of the academic year, the School of Medicine recognizes students and faculty for academic and teaching excellence, or outstanding contributions to their field.

The Hooding Program lists awardees who were recognized at the June 1 ceremony. For more information on these and other awards, continue reading.

• The Edward S. Hayes Gold Headed Cane Award was presented to Joshua Kornegay, MD
  
  
• The Leonard Tow Award for Humanism in Medicine (Student) was presented to Megan Locher, MD
  
  
• The John A. Resko Faculty Research and Mentoring Achievement Award was presented to Allison Fryer, PhD, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Professor, Department of Medicine
  
  
• The OHSU School of Medicine Alumni Association Awards were presented to Lisa Grill Dodson, MD ’91; Gretchen Berland, MD ’96; David W. Fleming, MD R’82; and Susan B. Olson, PhD ’84
  
  
• Continuing Medical Education Outstanding Faculty Awards were presented to Sharon Anderson, MD, and Robert Taylor, MD, at the annual Sommer Lectures on May 6-7
  
  
• The School of Medicine Alliance Awards were presented to Katherine Saylor, Joseph Aslan, PhD, Jennifer Vomaske and Adriana Andrade, PhD, at the Alliance's spring meeting on May 4
  
  
• The OHSU Faculty Senate Distinguished Faculty Awards for the School of Medicine recognized Patricia Hurn, PhD, Associate Dean for Faculty Development and Professor, Vice-Chair, Department of Anesthesiology on May 27 for outstanding collaboration
  
  
• The Oregon Master of Public Health Program recognized two OHSU students in its 2010 Student Excellence Awards - Nathan Trenholme and Brigit Hatch

Check back regularly for updates – we’ll be adding more information about awards as it’s collected. Have an award to add? Let us know at somdeansoffice@ohsu.edu